Arsenal have been linked with several central midfielders this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s primary target is Bruno Guimaraes, and the Gunners have also monitored Ayyoub Bouaddi and Alex Scott.
They are also keen to bolster the attack, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez being strongly linked.
That has led to questions around how captain Martin Odegaard fits in going forward.
Turkish reports linking Odegaard with Galatasaray emerged earlier this month and were quickly dismissed.
If Arsenal were to sell Martin Odegaard how much money would you want for him?
Carlo Ancelotti praised him after Norway’s win over Brazil, with Vinicius Junior crediting him for controlling the game and making life extremely difficult for the five-time world champions.
He has been one of the standout performers at this World Cup despite clearly not being at his physical peak.
But does Arsenal’s recruitment strategy this summer suggest they are preparing for life without Odegaard?
According to TEAMtalk, the answer is an emphatic no.
Arsenal’s position on Martin Odegaard’s future is clear
TEAMtalk report that none of Arsenal’s pursuits should be viewed as a reflection on Odegaard’s standing at the club.
Arteta remains a huge admirer of his captain and considers him one of the central pillars of the project for years to come.
Arsenal view him alongside Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka as one of the defining figures of the current era.
The report also indicates that Andrea Berta has already held initial discussions with Odegaard’s representatives over a new long-term contract.
Those conversations are understood to have been positive.
Odegaard has two years remaining on his current deal, is extremely happy in north London, and has no desire to relinquish the captaincy.
If all of this is true, it’s clear that Arteta does not want to add the likes of Rogers, Guimaraes, and Alvarez to displace Odegaard, but rather add to what his title-winning team already has.
Last summer was about improving the depth and raising the floor of the team. This one is about raising the ceiling, adding ruthlessness in powerful runners and ball-strikers. Players who can hurt teams in ways the current squad can’t quite manage from open play.
But Odegaard is still seen as the conductor. Arteta simply wants more instruments around him.
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